I am delighted & really rather honoured to say that I have been invited to join the Cockapoo Club of Great Britain (CCGB) Committee as an Officer.

The CCGB was initiated just 18 months ago and can now boast a fully functioning members’ club; an information packed website; a chat forum; regular newsletters; a breeder approval scheme; a registration database producing lineage papers; a rescue, rehoming and respite section; a network of meets, walks and glamping trips nationwide and of course the Cockapoo Games annual event.

Membership numbers of the CCGB now exceed 3300 members with a whopping growth of 300 members a month!

We took Saffi for a drink, I mean walk, and stopped off at our favourite Putney pub, The Spencers Arms. Always incredibly well-catered for dogs we took Saffi there in her first week with us. Key socialisation, of course!

I thought you might enjoy photos taken in the exact same spot over a year down the line…

Hello, my name is Alex. I’m Turi’s older sister and therefore Saffi’s Auntie. And I have a terrible confession to make. I almost poisoned Saffi!

I really didn’t mean to. If you’ve followed Turi’s blog, you might have seen me pop up in some of the photos, always nestling my little fur niece close to my bosom! For although we’ve always been a cat-loving family, and I had my reservations about Turi introducing a dog to the fold, the minute I met Saffi, she stole my heart.

I take my responsibilities as Saffi’s Auntie very seriously – I love taking her for walks, teaching her new tricks. I taught her to RUN when she was teeny, bounding across Barnes Common like utter lunatics together, hiding in the grass and splashing in the Thames. I am number one giver of cuddles (after my Dad). I’m not so hot on telling her off, especially when she jumps up on my legs for attention, but surely it’s the parents’ job to discipline their children ;-).

Turi instructed me on day one about all the foods we couldn’t feed her – chocolate and so on, and since then I’ve been incredibly diligent, scouring the floor at family gatherings for chocolate and other naughty items, removing lilies out of reach etc.

Until Easter Sunday morning.

Turi and Marcus were on a couple of errands, so my parents were keeping an eye on the Saff-pig. Full of the joys of Spring, I popped round to see everyone, with freshly baked hot cross buns and a bunch of daffodils. Whilst making breakfast, I managed to burn one of the buns, and was about to throw it away when I saw Saffi gazing at me (well, the bun actually), so I broke a piece off and gave it to her. She wolfed it down in about 2 seconds flat, tail wagging furiously, and sat back expectantly, waiting for more.

Luckily at that moment, the phone rang – Turi on her way back home. I laughed as I told her about her greedy little puppy and how she was loving her Easter treat. I actually had another bit of hot cross bun in my hand, ready to give to Saffi. Turi went silent on the other end of the line – then gently reminded me that raisins can be poisonous to dogs.

All credit to Turi – she didn’t freak out at all. We discussed how much of the bun Saffi had eaten (about a third at most) and how many raisins it might have contained (up to five, I reckoned?) She told me not to worry, that she’d keep an eye on Saffi and take her to the vet if she started looking unwell.

I felt awful, but reassured by Turi’s calm reaction. However, after hanging up, I went straight on the internet, and found several horror stories about dogs and raisins. The one that scared me the most was the puppy who’d gone into kidney failure after snaffling just one grape from the fruit bowl. I got myself into a real panic and decided to drive Saffi straight to the out-of-hours vet.

My Mum came with me, and like an episode of Challenge Anneka, kept Turi updated on the phone, all the way to the vet in Wimbledon. The out of hours vet was lovely and reassuring and told us she’d give Saffi an injection to make her throw up.

Saffi returned to the waiting room ten minutes later looking highly unimpressed. She proceeded to barf all over the floor for the next half an hour. The poor thing had nothing left in her stomach so all she was throwing up was bile. I anxiously questioned the vet about her state of health – she was convinced we’d got any trace of raisin out of Saffi’s stomach, and that she’d be fine.

As I handed over my credit card, wincing at the bill (£204!!), I asked exactly how many raisins she’d thrown up.

One raisin, said the vet.

The most expensive raisin in history.

I have learnt my lesson and won’t be feeding my little fur niece anything from the banned list ever again! But I don’t regret forking out for the vet bill, as expensive as it was. Saffi might belong to my sister and her fiancé, but she is definitely a most beloved family pet and I couldn’t bear any uncertainty about her health, especially if I’d caused it.

Such exciting news – my parents GOT A PUPPY!!! After months of gentle persuasion they decided to get their very own Cockapoo and are delighted with her… I still can’t quite believe we’ll have another ‘Poo in the famly.

Please meet ‘puppy’ who is yet to be named.

Isn’t she adorable?!

We – I mean my parents (!) – adopted puppy from a hobby breeder called Allison in Shropshire. Allison has a great approach to dog breeding and is so knowledgeable, particularly regarding health testing, genetics and socialisation. She patiently answered all my questions… and anyone who knows me will know there would have been lots of them!

Puppy’s Mummy is the stunning Darcy, a chocolate roan English Cocker Spaniel from working lines. Both Darcy’s parents were PRA clear which means that she is hereditarily clear through parentage. Darcy is affectionate and very people-orientated.

Darcy’s beautiful markings & stunning eyes

Puppy’s Daddy, Bigwig, is a chocolate Miniature Poodle owned by Allison’s friend Lucy who breeds Labradoodles, Cockapoos and occasionally Goldendoodles. Bigwig has been Optigen tested for PRA and is clear.

Puppy was one of nine puppies – five chocolate girls, three chocolate boys and just one apricot boy. Given that Bigwig is a young stud, I think you could say he did rather well! All the puppies were born with liver coloured noses which means they’ll develop beautiful green/amber eyes.

All nine puppies

My parents knew they wanted a girl – here is a picture of all five girls together.

How my parents chose between these little beauties, I don’t know!

Puppy is settling in so well. She loves nothing more than wiggling her way into your lap for a cuddle. She is confident, playful, mouthing everything, bounds up to you like a rabbit and is proving to be a bit of an explorer. She chases you if you run and we’ve had to be so careful not to step on her as she has a habit of settling on your feet if you stand in one place for too long.

Saffi was initially curious and a bit snappy – I must admit that I was a bit apprehensive. However, now that she has adjusted they have been inseparable – lots of rough and tumble, toy sharing (and stealing), licks and shnuffles. I think they’re going to be the best of friends.

Some lovely cuddly shots – will put up a video soon!

I am loving helping my parents adjust to puppy ownership and from a selfish perspective the new arrival has satisfied my puppy broodiness! I’m just relieved that I didn’t view Allison’s litter with them or I’d have wanted to take them ALL home with me. Allison has just three puppies left to find new homes – a chocolate boy and two chocolate girls. If anyone would like Allison’s details please don’t hesitate to get in touch – I cannot recommend her more highly.

After two hours of grumbles, sitting when I wanted her to stand, sulking, diversion tactics, howling, wiggling, trying to jump of the table and a cut finger (me, not Saffi) I have come to the conclusion that £35 for a groom is an absolute bargain.

I have been lucky enough to bring Saffi into work with me today and here she is helping me respond to some emails :-).

I took her for a walk first thing in an attempt to tire her out. One minute she is being a bit mischievous, stealing paper and teabags out of the bin. The next minute she flops with exhaustion from the excitement of it all.

I will take her to Green Park over lunch… fingers crossed she is a bit more compliant after that!